Interlocking Tile

ABSTRACT

An interlocking tile is used to form a floor with adjacent tiles each tile preferably has four sides with first interlocks on the first and second sides and second interlocks on the third and fourth side. The tile can interlock with adjacent tiles as long as the interlocking sides are parallel. The tiles can interlock even when they are aligned with one another in only one direction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to interlocking tile used to form a floor and,more particularly, to interlocking tile having an interlocks that aresized and shaped to interlock with tiles that are aligned with eachother in one direction or two directions.

2. Description of the Prior Art

It is known to have floor tiles that interlock with one another.However, previous floor tiles can only interlock when two interlockingtiles are aligned with one another in two directions. Previousinterlocking tiles can only interlock when the two tiles that are tointerlock with one another are precisely positioned in alignmentrelative to one another in two directions or an upper surface of theinterlocked tiles does not lie in one horizontal plane, or the tiles aretoo expensive, or the tiles are too difficult to lock or interlock, orthe interlocks break easily or too much labour input is required toinstall the tiles.

Some previous tiles can slip out of the interlocking relationship tooeasily. When tiles must be aligned with one another in two directions inorder to be interlocked to one another, a great deal of time is requiredin order to lay the tiles to form a floor as very precise work isrequired in order to align the tiles in two directions. Also, when thetiles must be aligned in two directions in order to interlock properly,when the alignment is slightly off, the tiles can become progressivelymore misaligned as each tile is laid. Sometimes, tiles previously laidmust be taken apart from one another and reinstalled in order to improvethe alignment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a tile of at leastthree sides, and preferably four sides, that interlocks with adjacenttiles to form a floor. It is a further object of the present inventionto provide a tile that interlocks with adjacent tiles to provide a floorwith a continuous horizontal upper surface except for narrow cracksbetween tiles. It is still a further object of the present invention toprovide an interlocking tile that interlocks with adjacent tiles as longas the tile is aligned with adjacent tiles in at least one direction.

An interlocking tile is used in forming a floor with other interlockingtiles. The tile comprises at least three sides and has an upper surface.A first side has a first interlock extending downward therefrom from theupper surface. The first side and the second side of the at least threesides are adjacent to one another. A second side has a second interlockextending outward beyond a footprint of the upper surface. The secondinterlock extends upward, the first interlock and the second interlockeach having a contact face that lies in a vertical plane parallel to thefirst and second sides respectively.

An interlocking tile is used in a floor with other interlocking tiles.The tile comprises an upper surface, bottom and four sides. Two adjacentsides of the four sides have first interlocks thereon and two adjacentsides of the four sides have second interlocks thereon. The firstinterlocks are sized and shaped to interlock with second interlocks onadjacent tiles of the other interlocking tiles. The interlocks extendsubstantially along a length of one side. The interlocks are capable ofinterlocking with one another when the tiles are aligned in onedirection.

A plurality of interlocking tiles are used in forming a floor, the tilesbeing sized and shaped to interlock with one another. Each tile has foursides and an upper surface. The first side and the second side of thefour sides are adjacent to one another and each has a first interlockthereon. The first interlock extends downward from the upper surface. Athird side and fourth side is adjacent to one another and opposite tothe first and second side respectively. The third and fourth side eachhas a second interlock thereon. There are two second interlocks, thesecond interlocks extending outward beyond a footprint of the uppersurface. The second interlocks extend upward. There are two firstinterlocks and two second interlocks, the interlocks each having acontact face that lies in a vertical plane parallel to that side whereeach interlock is located. The first and second interlocks correspond toone another so that the first interlock of one tile interlocks with thesecond interlock of another tile and so on to form a floor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an interlocking tile when viewed from atop;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an interlocking tile when viewed from abottom;

FIG. 3 is a top view of an interlocking tile;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of an interlocking tile;

FIG. 5 is a side view of an interlocking tile showing a first interlock;

FIG. 6 is a side view of an interlocking tile showing a secondinterlock;

FIG. 7 is a schematic top view of part of a floor formed from aplurality of tiles in which the tiles are aligned with one another intwo directions; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic top view of part of a floor formed from aplurality of tiles where the tiles are aligned with one another in onedirection.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In FIG. 1, an interlocking tile 2 has an upper surface 4 and four sides,being a first side 6, a second side 8, a third side 10 and fourth side12. A first interlock 14 extends from each of the first and second sides6, 8. A second interlock 16 extends from each of the third and fourthsides 10, 12. The first interlock 14 extends downward from the sides 6,8. The second interlock 16 extends outward from the sides 10, 12 andupward, the second interlock being affixed to the third and fourth sides10, 12 by a plurality of tabs 18.

In FIG. 2, the same reference numerals are used as those used in FIG. 1for those components that are identical. It can be seen that theinterlocking tile 2 is not only upside down in FIG. 2, but is orienteddifferently with the first side 6 and fourth side 12 located toward afront of the drawing and the second side 8 and third side 10 orientedtoward a rear of the drawing. A bottom 20 has a plurality of posts 22.The posts are interconnected by a plurality of arc shaped connectors 24.The connectors 24 extend parallel to the first and third sides 6, 10,parallel to the second and fourth sides 8, 12 as well as diagonally. Theconnectors 24 add strength to the tile 2 to support the upper surface 4(not shown in FIG. 2). In addition, there are three rectangular shapedsupports 25 extending diagonally through the tile 2 in one direction,approximately equidistant from one another. Numerous variations can bemade to the design of the bottom of the tile. For example, more or fewerthan four cylindrical supports 26 can be used. The rectangular supports25 can extend in two directions, 90 degrees apart from one another orthey can be eliminated entirely. It can be seen that there are four maincylindrical supports 26, there being one cylindrical support 26 locatedin each quadrant of the tile at a point of intersection of therectangular shaped supports 25.

From FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be seen that the second interlocks 16 have agap 28 located at a mid point thereof along each of the third and fourthsides 10, 12. The tile 2 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is preferably a twelveinch square tile. Such a tile can be designed with a different supportstructure on the bottom and/or can have the second interlocks extendingalong the third and fourth sides with the gap 28 eliminated. The supportstructure can vary, for example, for smaller tiles, the rectangulardiagonal supports 24 can be eliminated. Smaller tiles can also have thecylindrical supports 26 eliminated in the four quadrants but can haveone cylindrical support 26 located at a centre of the tile. The arcshaped supports eliminate material and make the tile lighter withoutsignificantly reducing the strength of the tile in a vertical direction.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, there is shown a top view and bottom view respectivelyof the tile 2. The same reference numerals are used in FIGS. 3 and 4 asthose used in FIGS. 1 and 2 to describe those components that areidentical. The first interlocks 14 have a contact surface 30 thatextends along the first and second sides 6, 8 in a direction parallel tothose sides respectively. The second interlocks 16 have a contactsurface 32 that extends along the third and fourth sides 10, 12 in adirection that is parallel to each of those sides. The first interlockscorrespond to the second interlocks so that a first interlock on onetile can interlock with a second interlock on another tile (only onetile is shown). The tiles interlock with one another to form a floor.One tile, with four exposed sides, can have a minimum of four adjacenttiles interlocked to that one tile. Preferably, the tiles interlock insuch a manner that there is a line of contact between adjacent sides ofadjacent tiles and the upper surface of two or more adjacent tiles issubstantially continuous and interrupted only by the line of contact.The first and second interlocks are sized and shaped so that adjacenttiles need only be aligned with a first tile in one direction. In otherwords, in order for two tiles to fit together, the tiles must beparallel to one another, but one tile could have two tiles interlockedwith the one tile along the same side. While the tiles fit tightlytogether, except for that tight fit and any obstruction caused by othertiles, two interlocked tiles can be forced to slide relative to oneanother along the line of contact while the two tiles remain in aninterlocked position. Therefore, when laying the tiles and particularlywhen the tiles are all of the same colour, an installer does not have tobe concerned if the tiles are not aligned in two directions, as long asthe tiles are aligned in one direction.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, the same reference numerals are used as those used inFIGS. 1 to 4 for those components that are identical. In FIG. 5, thetile 2 is oriented with the first side 6 towards the front of thedrawing. The second side 8 is located on the right and the fourth side12 is located on the left. The first side 6 has the first interlock 14located thereon and the second side 8 has the first interlock 14 locatedthereon. The first interlocks 14 have the contact face 30. The thirdside 12 has the second interlock 16 extending outward and then upwardtherefrom. The second interlock has the contact face 32 located therein.The first and second sides 6, 8 each have an inner wall 34 located justinside each of the sides 6, 8. The inner walls 34 have a plurality ofvertical ribs 36 located thereon to add strength to the sidewalls 34. Itcan be seen that the first interlock 14 and the second interlock 16 eachhave a U-shaped cross section and are sized so that the first interlockfrom one tile can fit within the second interlock on an adjacent tileand vice-versa.

In FIG. 6, the tile 2 is oriented so that the third side 10 faces thefront of the drawing. The second side 8 is located along the right handside and the fourth side 12 is located along the left hand side of thedrawing. The third side 10 has the second interlock 16 located thereonand the second side 8 has the first interlock 14 located thereon. Thesecond interlock 16 is also located along the fourth side 12. The samereference numerals are used in FIG. 6 as those used in FIG. 5 todescribe those components that are identical.

In FIG. 7, there is shown a schematic top view of part of a floor formedfrom nine tiles 2 where the first interlock 14 of one tile interlockswith the second interlock 16 of the adjacent tile. Tiles 2 in FIG. 7 arealigned with one another in two directions.

In FIG. 8, the same reference numerals are used as those used in FIG. 7for those components that are identical. There are seven tiles shown inFIG. 8 and the tiles are aligned in one direction, but misaligned in asecond direction. It can be seen that the two tiles in each of theoutside rows 40 is misaligned from left to right with the center row 42.

1. An interlocking tile for use in a floor having several tiles, saidtile interlocking with one or more adjacent tiles, said tile comprisingan upper surface, a bottom and four sides, two adjacent sides of saidfour sides having first interlocks thereon and two remaining adjacentsides of said four sides having second interlocks thereon, said firstinterlocks being shaped to interlock with second interlocks on saidadjacent tiles, said second interlocks being shaped to interlock withfirst interlocks on adjacent tiles, said first interlocks extendingdownward from said upper surface, said second interlocks extendingupward beyond a footprint of said upper surface, said first and secondinterlocks being shaped so that said tile can interlock with one or moreadjacent tiles when the adjacent tiles are aligned in one direction withsaid tile.
 2. An interlocking tile for use in a floor with otherinterlocking tiles, said tile comprising an upper surface, bottom andfour sides, two adjacent sides of said four sides having firstinterlocks thereon and two adjacent sides of said four sides havingsecond interlocks thereon, said first interlocks being sized and shapedto interlock with second interlocks on adjacent tiles and said secondinterlocks being sized and shaped to interlock with first interlocks onadjacent tiles, said interlocks extending substantially along a lengthof one side, said interlocks being capable of interlocking with oneanother when said tiles are aligned in one direction.
 3. An interlockingtile as claimed in claim 2 wherein a side of said tile that interlockswith an adjacent tile is parallel to said adjacent tile.
 4. Aninterlocking tile for use in forming a floor with other interlockingtiles, said tile comprising at least three sides with the first side andthe second side of said at least three sides being adjacent to oneanother, said tile having an upper surface, a first side having a firstinterlock thereon extending downward from said upper surface, a secondside having a second interlock extending outward beyond a footprint ofsaid upper surface, said second interlock extending upward, said firstinterlock and said second interlock each having a contact face that liesin a vertical plane parallel to said first and second sidesrespectively.
 5. A plurality of interlocking tiles for use in forming afloor, said tiles being sized and shaped to interlock with one another,each tile having four sides and an upper surface, a first side and asecond side of said four sides being adjacent to one another and eachhaving a first interlock thereon, said first interlock extendingdownward from said upper surface, a third side and fourth side beingadjacent to one another and opposite to said first and second siderespectively, said third and fourth side each having a second interlockthereon, there being two second interlocks, said second interlocksextending outward beyond a footprint of said upper surface, said secondinterlocks extending upward, there being two first interlocks and twosecond interlocks, said interlocks each having a contact face that liesin a vertical plane parallel to that side where each interlock islocated, said first and second interlocks corresponding to one anotherso that the first interlock of one tile interlocks with the secondinterlock of another tile and so on to form a floor.
 6. A plurality ofinterlocking tiles as claimed in claim 5 wherein one first interlock ofa first tile interlocks with a second interlock of a second tile andanother first interlock of said first tile interlocks with a secondinterlock of a third tile and so on to form said floor.
 7. A pluralityof interlocking tiles as claimed in claim 4 wherein said tile has abottom surface, said bottom surface having a plurality of legs thereon,with ribs extending between adjacent legs, said ribs being arc-shaped